JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER.
1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH)
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
N.Korea posters boast U.S. in 'strike range' of missiles-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea released propaganda posters on Thursday boasting that the U.S. mainland "is within our strike range!" and condemning United Nations sanctions over its recent missile tests.The colorful posters and defiant slogans are the latest sign of the tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over the North's nuclear weapons program. Military images and fiery anti-U.S. messages are common in North Korean propaganda.One of the posters shows a barrage of missiles fired from launchers toward a map of the United States in flames. The blue-lettered slogan reads: "All of the U.S. mainland is within our strike range!"Another has a torn American flag with the labels "Military option. Pre-emptive strike. Sanctions resolution." Red missiles emerge from a North Korean flag with the words: "Our answer!"The KCNA state news agency did not say why the posters were being released now.U.S. President Donald Trump warned North Korea last week it would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the United States, prompting North Korea to say it was considering plans to fire missiles toward the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.Trump later praised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a "wise" decision after he delayed the Guam decision.Another of the posters denounced U.N. sanctions and hailed North Korea's self reliance. "No one can stop our way!," it read.The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Aug. 5 that could slash by a third the Asian state's $3 billion annual export revenue over its two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July."What is typical in these posters is the image of an undaunted, fierce North Korea that is not fazed by the moves by the United States or the United Nations," Koen de Ceuster, an expert on North Korea at the University of Leiden, told Reuters."It reinforces the images of the strides North Korea made in missile capability and how North Korea is undaunted by any challenges to its sovereignty.” he said.(Reporting by Soyoung Kim, with extra reporting by Fanny Potkin in London, writing by Darren Schuettler, editing by Alister Doyle)
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
At least 40 dead in northeast Congo after mudslide hits town-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
BUNIA, Congo — Authorities in northeastern Congo say at least 40 people are dead after a mudslide in Ituri province.Gov. Abdallah Pene Mbaka said Thursday that teams are being sent to assess the damage in the village of Tora. The disaster followed heavy rains in the fishing community located along Lake Albert.Jean-Bosco Lalu, who leads civil society groups in the nearby regional hub of Bunia, says 30 bodies have been recovered and the toll is expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.Many people die each year in Congo as the result of poorly regulated development. People often built their homes near mines and bodies of water, only to become vulnerable to disasters caused by soil erosion and flooding.The Associated Press.
OZONE DEPLETION JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH DUE TO SIN
ISAIAH 30:26-27
26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,(7X OR 7-DEGREES HOTTER) as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people,(ISRAEL) and healeth the stroke of their wound.
27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
MATTHEW 24:21-22,29
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened,(DAY LIGHT HOURS SHORTENED) there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake (ISRAELS SAKE) those days shall be shortened (Daylight hours shortened)(THE ASTEROID HITS EARTH HERE)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
REVELATION 16:7-9
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS
REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Wildfires trap 2,000 villagers in Portugal-Thomas CABRAL-Agence France-Presse-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
Lisbon (AFP) - Forest fires cut off a village of 2,000 people in Portugal, as firefighters struggled Thursday to control two major blazes in the centre of the country, local officials said.And with another wave of hot weather forecast, the government declared a state of emergency in some central and northern regions of the country.Portugal's Interior Minister Constanca Urbano de Sousa meanwhile blamed arsonists and human negligence for most of the summer's fires.Vasco Estrela, the mayor of the embattled village of Macao, told the Lusa news agency: "It's impossible to leave or to enter Macao because of the flames and the smoke."The fire, which broke out on Tuesday evening, had grown stronger through Wednesday and by the small hours of Thursday morning had surrounded the village, he said, adding: "The fire is continuing unabated."Already at the end of July, a major fire had destroyed between 80 and 90 percent of the village, he said.The emergency services have had to evacuate around 130 people from nearby villages, said Patricia Gaspar, spokeswoman for Portugal's civil protection agency the ANPC.But firefighters were most worried about the fires around Macao, which were continuing to advance on several fronts, she added.The forecast of hotter weather in the coming days -- increasing the risk that old fire sites will rekindle or new ones break out -- convinced the government to declare a state of emergency in parts of the country.- A lethal summer -Firefighters and locals were also struggling to master fires in nearby villages, including Sardoal, near Vale Formoso and Alcaravela, AFP journalists at the scene reported."We came here to help the firefighters as best we can, by putting out smaller fires for example," said volunteer Ines Azevedo, from neighbouring Mouriscas."In a situation this dire, any help is useful."Already this month, this latest wave of fires has injured 86 people, seven of them seriously, while authorities last week had to evacuate 40,000 people in the town of Abrantes -- about 20 kilometres from Macao.And this year's fires have been the deadliest the country has endured.Wildfires in mid-June near Pedrogao Grande in central Portugal -- about 40 kilometres north of Macao -- killed 64 people and injured more than 250 others.The flames spread so fast that many people died trapped in their cars, caught in the fires as they tried to drive to safety.As well as the loss of life, the fires have destroyed 141,000 hectares so far this year, civil protection officials said Wednesday, citing provisional figures.The exceptional heat and dry conditions, coupled with strong winds, helped explain the scale of the destruction, said Rui Esteves, commander of the ANPC.- Record numbers of 'arsonists' -Police on Wednesday said they had arrested 91 suspected arsonists since the beginning of the year. That was a record, said Interior Minister Constanca Urbano de Sousa on Thursday."Most of the fires have been started by man, through negligence or malice," she said.Firefighters have had to tackle a little over 10,000 separate fires so far this year -- 2,500 more than at the same period in 2016.And after the lethal fires in June, Portugal has now had to call in international help to battle the forest fires for the second time this summer.Over the weekend, Spain sent 120 firefighters, 27 engines and three firefighting planes to help bolster the exhausted Portuguese teams -- part of a European Union programme of mutual aid in emergencies.Morocco too sent has one of its firefighting planes to help.The lethal fires in June led to a debate in Portugal about management of the forests and the need for an overhaul of the emergency response plan in the forest regions.In July, the parliament approved several measures aimed at cutting back on eucalyptus plantations, the most common tree being planted in the regions hit hardest by the fires -- and extremely flammable.
DISEASES
REVELATION 6:7-8
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
Evidence shows mosquitoes capable of carrying Zika virus may have colony in Ontario-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-August 16, 2017
A mosquito species capable of transmitting the Zika virus and other tropical diseases may have established a colony in southwestern Ontario, a development that could mean changes for Canadian healthcare providers.Two adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, were recently trapped in Windsor-Essex, following the 17 found last year, according to the area's health unit.Staff are not sure how the insects arrived in Ontario, but the region's acting medical officer of health said evidence suggests the mosquitoes may have hatched in the Windsor area."Seeing them this early, we're more concerned about an established population here," said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, explaining that last year the insects were found in mid-October. "This time around it's mid-August, which is more suggestive that they just became adults here in this region."It's also possible the insects were carried from the United States in a shipping container or by other cross-border traffic.Species can carry dengue fever-The two mosquitoes tested negative for both the Zika and West Nile virus, just like those captured in Windsor-Essex last year.Ahmed said climate change bringing warmer temperatures to Windsor might help explain why mosquitoes are moving north."Once they establish themselves here it would be more difficult to control and maybe we'll see some diseases we haven't seen before," he said, adding the species can also transmit dengue fever and chikungunya — both of which can cause fevers, and headaches along with muscle and joint pain."Our immune systems are not prepared for that," Ahmed added. "Some of these tropical symptoms are way behind on our list of differential diagnosis so I think that would require some understanding and education from the healthcare provider perspective that these are also a possibility now."Asian tiger mosquitoes are 'aggressive' biters-The species is described as "aggressive daytime biters," but the health unit notes the insects feed on both people and animals, meaning it's less likely they'll be the primary mosquito to spread the Zika virus."For Zika virus transmission to occur, the Aedes albopictus mosquito would need to feed on an infected person then feed upon another susceptible person," according to the health unit.South America, the Caribbean and Florida remain the areas with the greatest risk for contracting the virus.Only one in five people infected with Zika show symptoms, which typically include fever, rash, headache, muscle and joint pain, but the virus has also been linked to microcephaly — a birth defect where a baby's head is smaller than expected.The health unit is planning to conduct a deeper investigation into the area where the two mosquitoes were found in order to root out the insects."We've had West Nile since 2003 and we just try to manage it, so we don't want to be in that situation again," said Ahmed. "We want to do everything we can to prevent them from establishing a permanent site here."
DANIEL 7:23-24
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast (EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TRADING BLOCKS-10 WORLD REGIONS/TRADE BLOCS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings(10 NATIONS-10 WORLD DIVISION WORLD GOVERNMENT) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.(EITHER THE EUROPEAN UNION DICTATOR BOOTS 3 COUNTRIES FROM THE EU OR THE DICTATOR TAKES OVER THE WORLD ECONOMY BY CONTROLLING 3 WORLD TRADE BLOCS)
REVELATION 17:9-13
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.(THE VATICAN IS BUILT ON 7 HILLS OR MOUNTAINS)
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen,(1-ASSYRIA,2-EGYPT,3-BABYLON,4-MEDO-PERSIA,5-GREECE) and one is,(IN POWER IN JOHNS AND JESUS DAY-6-ROME) and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.(7TH-REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE OR THE EUROPEAN UNION TODAY AND THE SHORT SPACE IS-7 YEARS.THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL HAVE WORLD CONTROL FOR THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS.BUT WILL HAVE ITS MIGHTY WORLD POWER FOR THE FULL 7 YEARS OF THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD.AND THE WORLD DICTATOR WILL BE THE BEAST FROM THE EU.AND THE VATICAN POPE WILL BE THE WHORE THAT RIDES THE EUROPEAN UNION TO POWER.AND THE 2 EUROPEAN UNION POWER FREAKS WILL CONTROL AND DECIEVE THE WHOLE EARTH INTO THEIR DESTRUCTION.IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.YOU WILL BE DECIEVED BY THESE TWO.THE WORLD POLITICIAN-THE EUROPEAN UNION DICTATOR.AND THE FALSE PROPHET THAT DEFECTS CHRISTIANITY-THE FALSE VATICAN POPE.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Heres the scripture 1 week = 7 yrs Genesis 29:27-29
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week:(7 YEARS) and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
DANIEL 9:26-27
26 And after threescore and two weeks(62X7=434 YEARS+7X7=49 YEARS=TOTAL OF 69 WEEKS OR 483 YRS) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;(ROMAN LEADERS DESTROYED THE 2ND TEMPLE) and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.(THERE HAS TO BE 70 WEEKS OR 490 YRS TO FUFILL THE VISION AND PROPHECY OF DAN 9:24).(THE NEXT VERSE IS THAT 7 YR WEEK OR (70TH FINAL WEEK).
27 And he ( THE ROMAN,EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant (PEACE TREATY) with many for one week:(1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE ANIMAL SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
LUKE 2:1-3
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
European Central Bank still concerned about low inflation-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank's policymakers are still concerned that inflation in the 19-nation eurozone is too low despite an improving economy and seem worried about the strength of the shared euro currency, their last meeting shows.The account of the July 20 meeting, published Thursday, shows the rate-setters noted that market investors seemed overly aggressive in thinking the bank would wind down its stimulus program soon. That was reflected in the value of the euro, which has risen in recent weeks on expectations that the ECB would gradually move away from its ultra-low rates monetary policy.Although the eurozone economy is growing at a strong pace, inflation is only at an annual rate of 1.3 per cent , well below the 2 per cent target that the ECB considers most suitable for a healthy economy.The meeting's account says "concerns were expressed about a possible overshooting" in expectations among investors, especially in currency markets, about how soon the ECB would let market interest rates rise.Overall, the account shows caution by the ECB about how quickly to signal to investors that they would ease off their bond-buying stimulus program. The program seeks to keep market interest rates low — which in turn affect the costs of loans and mortgages — by flooding the financial system with newly created money. The ECB is pumping 60 billion euros ($70 billion) a month into the economy."There was broad agreement among members that there was presently a continuing need for steady-handed and persistent monetary policy," the account said.Many investors think the ECB will signal in the autumn its intention to dial down the bond-buying program, and to actually do so next year.The euro slumped upon Thursday's report, as some investors found the comments more cautious than expected. The currency fell almost a cent against the dollar, or 0.6 per cent , to $1.1695.The Associated Press.
Britain 'confident' of new phase in Brexit talks by October-[Reuters]-By Elizabeth Piper-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it was "confident" talks with the European Union would move towards discussing their future relationship by October, in contrast to warnings from the top EU negotiator that the target is receding.Prime Minister Theresa May's government wants to push the discussion beyond the divorce settlement soon, to offer companies some assurance of what to expect after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019. She said that despite a lot left to do, she was confident of securing "a deep and special relationship".But the bloc has repeated that until there is "sufficient progress" in the first stage of talks on the rights of expatriates, Britain's border with EU member Ireland and a financial settlement, officials cannot consider future ties.Last month, the EU's top Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said talks on future relations had become less likely to start in October because of a lack of progress on the "divorce". nL5N1KI4UC]-"Government officials are working at pace and we are confident we will have made sufficient progress by October to advance the talks to the next phase," a spokeswoman for Britain's Department for Exiting the European Union said in a statement on Thursday."As the Secretary of State (Brexit minister David Davis) has said, it is important that both sides demonstrate a dynamic and flexible approach to each round of the negotiations."May said the government had shown the work it was putting into the talks with this week's release of papers, including those with proposals for a future customs arrangement and for the border between Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland."It's good that we've had a constructive, positive approach to the negotiations so far, and those negotiations are continuing ... There's a lot to be done," she told local television."We will develop a deep and special partnership with the European Union for the future that's good for the UK and good for the EU as well."The difference in tone was underlined when a spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU's executive, said simply that the two sides had agreed the talks' structure: "The next round will be in the week of 28 August."On Wednesday, unidentified sources were quoted by Britain's Sky News as saying the two sides might have to delay talks on their post-Brexit relationship until December because they would not make the progress required by the EU.-FUTURE CERTAINTY-British businesses have demanded more certainty from the government over how a relationship with the EU will work after Brexit, saying they cannot make investment decisions otherwise.According to a survey of 200 chief financial officers across Britain and other parts of Europe by Thomson Reuters, a majority of businesses are yet to change their strategic planning because of Brexit.While 69 percent of businesses said they had not seen an impact from the vote on their strategic planning, 21 percent of the CFOs reported they had held off from expanding in Britain.More damning for the government, confidence among CFOs in May's ability to secure a positive deal for business is just 3.5 out of 10, the survey showed.Possibly responding to criticism that it is not prepared for the talks, May's government this week published its proposals for customs arrangements and for the Northern Irish border.Both suggested that Britain wanted to mirror much of what is already in place, to reduce friction at borders, and said there should be no frontier posts or immigration checks between Ireland and the north.But this would mean EU citizens wishing to enter Britain could do so by traveling to Ireland and crossing the border unchecked - something that is likely to antagonize many Britons who said that controlling immigration was a major reason for their referendum vote last year in favor of Brexit.The EU would probably balk at the proposal as well, as it would be unlikely to accept the possibility of a free flow of non-EU standard goods into member state Ireland if Britain left the bloc's customs union and single market.An even more difficult part of the talks might be how much Britain should pay the EU when it leaves in March 2019. While saying it will meet its responsibilities on the "Brexit bill", Britain has questioned suggestions from the EU that it must pay around 60 billion euros.(Additional reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Mark Heinrich)
WORLD POWERS IN THE LAST DAYS (END OF AGE OF GRACE NOT THE WORLD)
EUROPEAN UNION-KING OF WEST-DAN 9:26-27,DAN 7:23-24,DAN 11:40,REV 13:1-10
EGYPT-KING OF THE SOUTH-DAN 11:40
RUSSIA-KING OF THE NORTH-EZEK 38:1-2,EZEK 39:1-3
CHINA-KING OF THE EAST-DAN 11:44,REV 9:16,18
VATICAN-RELIGIOUS LEADER-REV 13:11-18,REV 17:4-5,9,18
WORLD TERRORISM
OH BY THE WAY WHEN THE MEDIA SAYS ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS GOD IS GREAT LIE. IN ISLAM ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS OUR GOD IS GREATER OR GREATEST. THIS IS HOW THE MEDIA SUCK HOLES UP TO ISLAMIC-QURANIC-MUSLIMS. BY WATERING DOWN THE REAL MEANING OF THE SEX FOR MURDER DEATH CULT ISLAM. TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A PEACEFUL RELIGION (CULT OF DEATH AND WORLD DOMINATION).
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS) man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
Austrian soldiers to stop migrants from Italy By Andrew Rettman-AUG 17,17-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, Today, 09:28-Austria is sending soldiers to stop migrants coming from Italy, while Bulgaria has said the EU should “defend” its borders by “force of arms”.Austria said it would deploy 70 soldiers, but no armoured vehicles, at the Brenner Pass to Italy on Thursday (17 August).It said between 700 and 1,000 migrants were entering the country from Italy each month, many of them on freight trains.“It’s important not only to prevent illegal migration but, above all, to save human lives,” Helmut Tomac, an Austrian police chief, said on Wednesday, citing the fact that two migrants were found dead on a goods train last year.Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden have the European Commission’s blessing to impose temporary border checks despite being part of Schengen, the passport-free travel zone in Europe.The military deployment is part of a wider EU migrant crackdown, including on its external borders.Bulgaria said on Thursday that it would send 600 soldiers to stop people crossing from Turkey.Krassimir Karakachanov, its defence minister, told Die Welt, a German newspaper, that this would include “highly specialised combat groups”."We cannot allow illegal migrants to come to Europe in large numbers,” he said, adding: “We should deploy Nato or EU forces in Italy and Greece and defend the external borders of the European Union by force of arms”.-Migrant routes-Italy and Greece are still the main route for asylum seekers and economic migrants trying to enter the EU.Almost 96,500 people came to Italy by crossing the central Mediterranean from 1 January until 6 August, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), an international body based in Geneva.Some 11,700 came to Greece via the eastern Mediterranean and 8,200 came to Spain.The Greek route had been the main one, with 161,000 people last year.But this was all-but closed by an EU deal with Turkey to stop people from sailing to Greek islands, creating extra pressure on Italy and Spain.Italy saw 100,000 arrivals in the January to August period last year. The 2017 figure would have been higher, but a deal with Libya to stop migrants in Libyan waters and to chase away NGO rescue boats led to a recent drop-off in numbers.The Spanish figure for this year is already three times higher than for last year.Romania has also recorded a five-fold increase in irregular crossings compared to last year.It caught more than 1,400 people trying to sneak into the country in the first half of this year, including a boat carrying 69 Iraqi migrants in the Black Sea last weekend.-Solidarity crisis-The Austrian military action has highlighted the lack of solidarity on immigration in the EU.Local authorities in north-west Italy said the military deployment was “surprising and unjustified”.Italian leader Paolo Gentiloni also urged the European Commission in a letter this week to mobilise “a greater European effort to face the migrant phenomenon, which has a structural dimension and concerns the entire European Union”.EU states had agreed to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece over a two-year period.They relocated just 20,000 or so, however.The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia have boycotted the scheme, prompting legal action by the Commission.Austria and Bulgaria did not publicly boycott the quotas, but did so in effect. Austria, which was due to take 1,953 people, has taken in no one, while Bulgaria, which was due to take 1,302 people, took just 50 from Greece.France and Germany, which have complained about the EU quota rebels, have also fallen far short of their commitments.Germany was due to take 27,536 people, but took about 7,000. The French quota was 19,714, but France took about 4,000 people.-Human suffering-The EU border crackdown has been criticised on humanitarian grounds.The IOM said at least 2,405 people had died trying to cross the Mediterranean to the EU so far this year, compared to 3,193 in the same period last year.The majority of those coming to Greece were fleeing the war in Syria. Many of those coming via Libya to Italy had fled poverty, but faced torture and sexual violence in Libyan detention camps, according to charities such as the UK-based Save the Children.
Anti-Muslim Australian senator wears burqa in Parliament-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian senator provoked an angry backlash from lawmakers by wearing a burqa in Parliament on Thursday as part of her campaign for a national ban on Islamic face covers.Pauline Hanson, leader of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration One Nation minor party, sat wearing the black head-to-ankle garment for more than 10 minutes before taking it off as she rose to explain that she wanted such outfits banned on national security grounds."There has been a large majority of Australians (who) wish to see the banning of the burqa," said Hanson, an outspoken fan of President Donald Trump, as senators objected.Attorney-General George Brandis drew applause when he said his government would not ban the burqa, and chastised Hanson for what he described as a "stunt" that offended Australia's Muslim minority."To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to reflect on what you have done," Brandis said.Opposition Senate leader Penny Wong told Hanson: "It is one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith; it is another to wear it as a stunt here in the Senate."Sam Dastyari, an opposition senator and an Iranian-born Muslim, said: "We have seen the stunt of all stunts in this chamber by Sen. Hanson.""The close to 500,000 Muslim Australians do not deserve to be targeted, do not deserve to be marginalized, do not deserve to be ridiculed, do not deserve to have their faith made some political point by the desperate leader of a desperate political party," Dastyari said.Senate President Stephen Parry said Hanson's identity had been confirmed before she entered the chamber. He also said he would not dictate the standards of dress for the chamber.Parliament House briefly segregated women wearing burqas and niqabs in 2014. The department that runs Parliament House said that "persons with facial coverings" would no longer be allowed in the building's open public galleries. Instead, they were to be directed to galleries usually reserved for noisy schoolchildren, where they could sit behind soundproof glass.The policy was branded a "burqa ban" and was widely condemned as a segregation of Muslim women, as well as a potential breach of anti-discrimination laws.Officials relented, allowing people wearing face coverings in all public areas of Parliament House after the coverings were removed temporarily at the building's front door so that staff can check the visitor's identity.The reason behind the segregation was never explained, but it seems to have been triggered by a rumour on Sydney talk radio that men dressed in burqas were planning an anti-Muslim demonstration in Parliament House.Rod McGuirk, The Associated Press.
Exclusive: U.S. forces to stay in Syria for decades, say militia allies-[Reuters]-By John Davison-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
AIN ISSA, Syria (Reuters) - Washington's main Syrian ally in the fight against Islamic State says the U.S. military will remain in northern Syria long after the jihadists are defeated, predicting enduring ties with the Kurdish-dominated region.The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of militias dominated by the Kurdish YPG, believes the United States has a "strategic interest" in staying on, SDF spokesman Talal Silo told Reuters."They have a strategy policy for decades to come. There will be military, economic and political agreements in the long term between the leadership of the northern areas (of Syria) ... and the U.S. administration," Silo said.The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has deployed forces at several locations in northern Syria, including an airbase near the town of Kobani. It has supported the SDF with air strikes, artillery, and special forces on the ground.Asked about long-term strategy, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the coalition, referred Reuters to the Pentagon. He said there was "still a lot of fighting to do, even after ISIS has been defeated in Raqqa".Islamic State remained in strongholds along the Euphrates River Valley, he added, in a reference to its stronghold in Deir al-Zor province southeast of Raqqa."Our mission ... is to defeat ISIS in designated areas of Iraq and Syria and to set conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability," Dillon said, without elaborating.Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman, said in Washington: “The Department of Defense does not discuss timelines for future operations. However we remain committed to the destruction of ISIS and preventing its return.”The SDF and YPG dominate a swathe of northern Syria where Kurdish-led autonomous administrations have emerged since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011.The YPG and its allies hold an uninterrupted 400-km (250-mile) stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border.The U.S. alliance with the SDF and YPG is a major point of contention with neighboring Turkey, a U.S. ally. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought a three-decade insurgency in Turkey.Silo said: "The Americans have strategic interests here after the end of Daesh," using a pejorative term for Islamic State.-NEW BASES?-"They (recently) referred to the possibility of securing an area to prepare for a military airport. These are the beginnings - they're not giving support just to leave. America is not providing all this support for free," Silo said.He suggested northern Syria could become a new base for U.S. forces in the region. "Maybe there could be an alternative to their base in Turkey," he added, referring to the Incirlik air base.The head of the YPG said last month the United States had established seven military bases in areas of northern Syria controlled by the YPG or SDF, including a major air base near Kobani, a town at the border with Turkey.The coalition says it does not discuss the location of its forces, citing operational security.Reuters reporters have seen Blackhawk and Apache military helicopters taking off from a cement factory southeast of Kobani, a Kurdish town on the border with Turkey.Washington under the new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump started distributing arms to the YPG in March ahead of the final assault on Raqqa city, infuriating Turkey which has been unsuccessfully lobbying Washington to abandon the SDF.Despite SDF confidence that U.S. forces will stay, there is concern that Washington will not give enough backing to YPG-allied forces and civil councils that control northeast Syria."We're constantly asking them for clear, public political support," Silo said. He said the U.S. State Department held its first public meeting with SDF officials this month."At the moment there are no meetings being held for a real discussion of Syria's future. There are initiatives for developing political support for our forces, but we hope this will be bigger," he said.(Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Tom Perry and Andrew Roche)
Saudi Arabia reopens Qatar border for hajj pilgrims-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that it is reopening its border with Qatar to allow Qataris to attend the hajj, despite a monthslong rift between Doha and four Arab countries led by Riyadh that prompted both sides to trade accusations of politicizing the pilgrimage.The decision came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a surprise meeting with a Qatari royal family member whose branch of the family was ousted in a palace coup in 1972.Saudi state media broke the news overnight. Qatar did not officially comment on the deal until its foreign minister was pressed on Thursday by reporters during a briefing in Sweden, some 12 hours later.Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he welcomed the Saudi decision, but that the measures must also include a full lifting of the blockade.The way in which the deal was reached and announced out of Saudi Arabia raised questions about the level of the Qatari government's involvement. Qatari officials did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Qatari pilgrims will be allowed to enter the kingdom by land and would then be flown onward from two Saudi airports in Dammam and al-Ahsa at the king's expense. The king also ordered that aircraft from the country's flagship carrier be dispatched to Qatar's capital, Doha, to fly Qatari pilgrims to the Red Sea city of Jiddah — nearest to Mecca — and to host them at his expense for the hajj.Saudi state TV said 100 Qataris had arrived at the border crossing on Thursday.The decision came after Prince Mohammed met with Qatari royal family member Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani late Wednesday at a palace in Jiddah. Images broadcast on Saudi media showed the two men seated and smiling for cameras.Sheikh Abdullah, who's lived previously for some years in Saudi Arabia and has gone back on private visits, has no role in government and his last position was as head of the equestrian and camel racing federation in the 1970s and 1980s, said Gerd Nonneman, a professor of International Relations and Gulf Studies at Georgetown University in Qatar.Sheikh Abdullah's grandfather, father and brother were rulers of Qatar until a palace coup ousted his branch of the royal family in 1972."He's certainly not an envoy of the Qatari government. This was not a deal that was struck," Nonneman said, describing it as a Saudi "propaganda ploy" to catch the Qatari government off-guard.He said Saudi outreach to various individuals within Qatar's large royal family causes discomfort and "needles the Qatari leadership."Sheikh Abdullah was quoted as telling the Saudi prince that the ties between the two countries "are brotherly relations rooted in history." Saudi Arabia's crown prince responded in kind, emphasizing the historical ties between the two royal families, according to the Saudi Press Agency.The meeting in Jiddah was the first by a Qatari royal in Saudi Arabia since a political standoff erupted 10 weeks ago when the kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar. The quartet also halted direct flights, expelled Qatari residents and the three Gulf countries ordered their citizens in Qatar to leave. Saudi Arabia sealed Qatar's only land border.Mixed-nationality families in the Gulf were affected by the measures, and Qatari students in the Gulf countries were pulled out of final exams. The crisis has also strained traditional kinships in the region.Qatar's National Human Rights Committee issued a brief statement Thursday responding to what it said were "reports in Saudi media" outlining the kingdom's measures for Qatari pilgrims.The committee expressed its "satisfaction" with the decisions, but reiterated its demands that the hajj not be politicized and said the Saudi measures remain "unclear," particularly regarding the facilitation of hajj for foreigners residing in Qatar. The statement noted that the agreement does not include allowing Qatar Airways flights carrying pilgrims.The statement also called "for further measures to lift the siege entirely on citizens and residents of Qatar."Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the hajj, which begins late next week. Saudi Arabia prides itself on hosting millions of pilgrims annually at Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.Qatar's human rights committee had previously filed a complaint with the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of belief and religion over restrictions placed on its nationals who wanted to attend the hajj this year. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Qatar's complaint amounted to a "declaration of war" against the kingdom's management of the holy sites.Despite the goodwill measure announced Thursday, tensions remain. The quartet accuses the small Gulf nation of supporting extremists. Qatar denies the allegation and says the charges are politically motivated.Bahrain on Wednesday said it was investigating an alleged telephone call between Qatar's prime minister and Ali Salman, a Bahraini Shiite opposition leader who is serving a nine-year prison sentence for his role in the country's 2011 protests. Bahrain's public prosecutor said the alleged call centred on how to "exacerbate (tensions) and undermine Bahrain's interests and stability."___Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Adam Schreck and Jon Gambrell in Dubai and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.Abdullah Al-Shihri And Aya Batrawy, The Associated Press.
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
N.Korea posters boast U.S. in 'strike range' of missiles-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea released propaganda posters on Thursday boasting that the U.S. mainland "is within our strike range!" and condemning United Nations sanctions over its recent missile tests.The colorful posters and defiant slogans are the latest sign of the tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over the North's nuclear weapons program. Military images and fiery anti-U.S. messages are common in North Korean propaganda.One of the posters shows a barrage of missiles fired from launchers toward a map of the United States in flames. The blue-lettered slogan reads: "All of the U.S. mainland is within our strike range!"Another has a torn American flag with the labels "Military option. Pre-emptive strike. Sanctions resolution." Red missiles emerge from a North Korean flag with the words: "Our answer!"The KCNA state news agency did not say why the posters were being released now.U.S. President Donald Trump warned North Korea last week it would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the United States, prompting North Korea to say it was considering plans to fire missiles toward the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.Trump later praised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a "wise" decision after he delayed the Guam decision.Another of the posters denounced U.N. sanctions and hailed North Korea's self reliance. "No one can stop our way!," it read.The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Aug. 5 that could slash by a third the Asian state's $3 billion annual export revenue over its two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July."What is typical in these posters is the image of an undaunted, fierce North Korea that is not fazed by the moves by the United States or the United Nations," Koen de Ceuster, an expert on North Korea at the University of Leiden, told Reuters."It reinforces the images of the strides North Korea made in missile capability and how North Korea is undaunted by any challenges to its sovereignty.” he said.(Reporting by Soyoung Kim, with extra reporting by Fanny Potkin in London, writing by Darren Schuettler, editing by Alister Doyle)
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
At least 40 dead in northeast Congo after mudslide hits town-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
BUNIA, Congo — Authorities in northeastern Congo say at least 40 people are dead after a mudslide in Ituri province.Gov. Abdallah Pene Mbaka said Thursday that teams are being sent to assess the damage in the village of Tora. The disaster followed heavy rains in the fishing community located along Lake Albert.Jean-Bosco Lalu, who leads civil society groups in the nearby regional hub of Bunia, says 30 bodies have been recovered and the toll is expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.Many people die each year in Congo as the result of poorly regulated development. People often built their homes near mines and bodies of water, only to become vulnerable to disasters caused by soil erosion and flooding.The Associated Press.
OZONE DEPLETION JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH DUE TO SIN
ISAIAH 30:26-27
26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,(7X OR 7-DEGREES HOTTER) as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people,(ISRAEL) and healeth the stroke of their wound.
27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
MATTHEW 24:21-22,29
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened,(DAY LIGHT HOURS SHORTENED) there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake (ISRAELS SAKE) those days shall be shortened (Daylight hours shortened)(THE ASTEROID HITS EARTH HERE)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
REVELATION 16:7-9
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS
REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Wildfires trap 2,000 villagers in Portugal-Thomas CABRAL-Agence France-Presse-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
Lisbon (AFP) - Forest fires cut off a village of 2,000 people in Portugal, as firefighters struggled Thursday to control two major blazes in the centre of the country, local officials said.And with another wave of hot weather forecast, the government declared a state of emergency in some central and northern regions of the country.Portugal's Interior Minister Constanca Urbano de Sousa meanwhile blamed arsonists and human negligence for most of the summer's fires.Vasco Estrela, the mayor of the embattled village of Macao, told the Lusa news agency: "It's impossible to leave or to enter Macao because of the flames and the smoke."The fire, which broke out on Tuesday evening, had grown stronger through Wednesday and by the small hours of Thursday morning had surrounded the village, he said, adding: "The fire is continuing unabated."Already at the end of July, a major fire had destroyed between 80 and 90 percent of the village, he said.The emergency services have had to evacuate around 130 people from nearby villages, said Patricia Gaspar, spokeswoman for Portugal's civil protection agency the ANPC.But firefighters were most worried about the fires around Macao, which were continuing to advance on several fronts, she added.The forecast of hotter weather in the coming days -- increasing the risk that old fire sites will rekindle or new ones break out -- convinced the government to declare a state of emergency in parts of the country.- A lethal summer -Firefighters and locals were also struggling to master fires in nearby villages, including Sardoal, near Vale Formoso and Alcaravela, AFP journalists at the scene reported."We came here to help the firefighters as best we can, by putting out smaller fires for example," said volunteer Ines Azevedo, from neighbouring Mouriscas."In a situation this dire, any help is useful."Already this month, this latest wave of fires has injured 86 people, seven of them seriously, while authorities last week had to evacuate 40,000 people in the town of Abrantes -- about 20 kilometres from Macao.And this year's fires have been the deadliest the country has endured.Wildfires in mid-June near Pedrogao Grande in central Portugal -- about 40 kilometres north of Macao -- killed 64 people and injured more than 250 others.The flames spread so fast that many people died trapped in their cars, caught in the fires as they tried to drive to safety.As well as the loss of life, the fires have destroyed 141,000 hectares so far this year, civil protection officials said Wednesday, citing provisional figures.The exceptional heat and dry conditions, coupled with strong winds, helped explain the scale of the destruction, said Rui Esteves, commander of the ANPC.- Record numbers of 'arsonists' -Police on Wednesday said they had arrested 91 suspected arsonists since the beginning of the year. That was a record, said Interior Minister Constanca Urbano de Sousa on Thursday."Most of the fires have been started by man, through negligence or malice," she said.Firefighters have had to tackle a little over 10,000 separate fires so far this year -- 2,500 more than at the same period in 2016.And after the lethal fires in June, Portugal has now had to call in international help to battle the forest fires for the second time this summer.Over the weekend, Spain sent 120 firefighters, 27 engines and three firefighting planes to help bolster the exhausted Portuguese teams -- part of a European Union programme of mutual aid in emergencies.Morocco too sent has one of its firefighting planes to help.The lethal fires in June led to a debate in Portugal about management of the forests and the need for an overhaul of the emergency response plan in the forest regions.In July, the parliament approved several measures aimed at cutting back on eucalyptus plantations, the most common tree being planted in the regions hit hardest by the fires -- and extremely flammable.
DISEASES
REVELATION 6:7-8
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
Evidence shows mosquitoes capable of carrying Zika virus may have colony in Ontario-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-August 16, 2017
A mosquito species capable of transmitting the Zika virus and other tropical diseases may have established a colony in southwestern Ontario, a development that could mean changes for Canadian healthcare providers.Two adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, were recently trapped in Windsor-Essex, following the 17 found last year, according to the area's health unit.Staff are not sure how the insects arrived in Ontario, but the region's acting medical officer of health said evidence suggests the mosquitoes may have hatched in the Windsor area."Seeing them this early, we're more concerned about an established population here," said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, explaining that last year the insects were found in mid-October. "This time around it's mid-August, which is more suggestive that they just became adults here in this region."It's also possible the insects were carried from the United States in a shipping container or by other cross-border traffic.Species can carry dengue fever-The two mosquitoes tested negative for both the Zika and West Nile virus, just like those captured in Windsor-Essex last year.Ahmed said climate change bringing warmer temperatures to Windsor might help explain why mosquitoes are moving north."Once they establish themselves here it would be more difficult to control and maybe we'll see some diseases we haven't seen before," he said, adding the species can also transmit dengue fever and chikungunya — both of which can cause fevers, and headaches along with muscle and joint pain."Our immune systems are not prepared for that," Ahmed added. "Some of these tropical symptoms are way behind on our list of differential diagnosis so I think that would require some understanding and education from the healthcare provider perspective that these are also a possibility now."Asian tiger mosquitoes are 'aggressive' biters-The species is described as "aggressive daytime biters," but the health unit notes the insects feed on both people and animals, meaning it's less likely they'll be the primary mosquito to spread the Zika virus."For Zika virus transmission to occur, the Aedes albopictus mosquito would need to feed on an infected person then feed upon another susceptible person," according to the health unit.South America, the Caribbean and Florida remain the areas with the greatest risk for contracting the virus.Only one in five people infected with Zika show symptoms, which typically include fever, rash, headache, muscle and joint pain, but the virus has also been linked to microcephaly — a birth defect where a baby's head is smaller than expected.The health unit is planning to conduct a deeper investigation into the area where the two mosquitoes were found in order to root out the insects."We've had West Nile since 2003 and we just try to manage it, so we don't want to be in that situation again," said Ahmed. "We want to do everything we can to prevent them from establishing a permanent site here."
DANIEL 7:23-24
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast (EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TRADING BLOCKS-10 WORLD REGIONS/TRADE BLOCS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings(10 NATIONS-10 WORLD DIVISION WORLD GOVERNMENT) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.(EITHER THE EUROPEAN UNION DICTATOR BOOTS 3 COUNTRIES FROM THE EU OR THE DICTATOR TAKES OVER THE WORLD ECONOMY BY CONTROLLING 3 WORLD TRADE BLOCS)
REVELATION 17:9-13
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.(THE VATICAN IS BUILT ON 7 HILLS OR MOUNTAINS)
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen,(1-ASSYRIA,2-EGYPT,3-BABYLON,4-MEDO-PERSIA,5-GREECE) and one is,(IN POWER IN JOHNS AND JESUS DAY-6-ROME) and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.(7TH-REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE OR THE EUROPEAN UNION TODAY AND THE SHORT SPACE IS-7 YEARS.THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL HAVE WORLD CONTROL FOR THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS.BUT WILL HAVE ITS MIGHTY WORLD POWER FOR THE FULL 7 YEARS OF THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD.AND THE WORLD DICTATOR WILL BE THE BEAST FROM THE EU.AND THE VATICAN POPE WILL BE THE WHORE THAT RIDES THE EUROPEAN UNION TO POWER.AND THE 2 EUROPEAN UNION POWER FREAKS WILL CONTROL AND DECIEVE THE WHOLE EARTH INTO THEIR DESTRUCTION.IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.YOU WILL BE DECIEVED BY THESE TWO.THE WORLD POLITICIAN-THE EUROPEAN UNION DICTATOR.AND THE FALSE PROPHET THAT DEFECTS CHRISTIANITY-THE FALSE VATICAN POPE.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Heres the scripture 1 week = 7 yrs Genesis 29:27-29
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week:(7 YEARS) and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
DANIEL 9:26-27
26 And after threescore and two weeks(62X7=434 YEARS+7X7=49 YEARS=TOTAL OF 69 WEEKS OR 483 YRS) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;(ROMAN LEADERS DESTROYED THE 2ND TEMPLE) and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.(THERE HAS TO BE 70 WEEKS OR 490 YRS TO FUFILL THE VISION AND PROPHECY OF DAN 9:24).(THE NEXT VERSE IS THAT 7 YR WEEK OR (70TH FINAL WEEK).
27 And he ( THE ROMAN,EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant (PEACE TREATY) with many for one week:(1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2 yrs in TEMPLE ANIMAL SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
LUKE 2:1-3
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
European Central Bank still concerned about low inflation-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank's policymakers are still concerned that inflation in the 19-nation eurozone is too low despite an improving economy and seem worried about the strength of the shared euro currency, their last meeting shows.The account of the July 20 meeting, published Thursday, shows the rate-setters noted that market investors seemed overly aggressive in thinking the bank would wind down its stimulus program soon. That was reflected in the value of the euro, which has risen in recent weeks on expectations that the ECB would gradually move away from its ultra-low rates monetary policy.Although the eurozone economy is growing at a strong pace, inflation is only at an annual rate of 1.3 per cent , well below the 2 per cent target that the ECB considers most suitable for a healthy economy.The meeting's account says "concerns were expressed about a possible overshooting" in expectations among investors, especially in currency markets, about how soon the ECB would let market interest rates rise.Overall, the account shows caution by the ECB about how quickly to signal to investors that they would ease off their bond-buying stimulus program. The program seeks to keep market interest rates low — which in turn affect the costs of loans and mortgages — by flooding the financial system with newly created money. The ECB is pumping 60 billion euros ($70 billion) a month into the economy."There was broad agreement among members that there was presently a continuing need for steady-handed and persistent monetary policy," the account said.Many investors think the ECB will signal in the autumn its intention to dial down the bond-buying program, and to actually do so next year.The euro slumped upon Thursday's report, as some investors found the comments more cautious than expected. The currency fell almost a cent against the dollar, or 0.6 per cent , to $1.1695.The Associated Press.
Britain 'confident' of new phase in Brexit talks by October-[Reuters]-By Elizabeth Piper-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it was "confident" talks with the European Union would move towards discussing their future relationship by October, in contrast to warnings from the top EU negotiator that the target is receding.Prime Minister Theresa May's government wants to push the discussion beyond the divorce settlement soon, to offer companies some assurance of what to expect after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019. She said that despite a lot left to do, she was confident of securing "a deep and special relationship".But the bloc has repeated that until there is "sufficient progress" in the first stage of talks on the rights of expatriates, Britain's border with EU member Ireland and a financial settlement, officials cannot consider future ties.Last month, the EU's top Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said talks on future relations had become less likely to start in October because of a lack of progress on the "divorce". nL5N1KI4UC]-"Government officials are working at pace and we are confident we will have made sufficient progress by October to advance the talks to the next phase," a spokeswoman for Britain's Department for Exiting the European Union said in a statement on Thursday."As the Secretary of State (Brexit minister David Davis) has said, it is important that both sides demonstrate a dynamic and flexible approach to each round of the negotiations."May said the government had shown the work it was putting into the talks with this week's release of papers, including those with proposals for a future customs arrangement and for the border between Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland."It's good that we've had a constructive, positive approach to the negotiations so far, and those negotiations are continuing ... There's a lot to be done," she told local television."We will develop a deep and special partnership with the European Union for the future that's good for the UK and good for the EU as well."The difference in tone was underlined when a spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU's executive, said simply that the two sides had agreed the talks' structure: "The next round will be in the week of 28 August."On Wednesday, unidentified sources were quoted by Britain's Sky News as saying the two sides might have to delay talks on their post-Brexit relationship until December because they would not make the progress required by the EU.-FUTURE CERTAINTY-British businesses have demanded more certainty from the government over how a relationship with the EU will work after Brexit, saying they cannot make investment decisions otherwise.According to a survey of 200 chief financial officers across Britain and other parts of Europe by Thomson Reuters, a majority of businesses are yet to change their strategic planning because of Brexit.While 69 percent of businesses said they had not seen an impact from the vote on their strategic planning, 21 percent of the CFOs reported they had held off from expanding in Britain.More damning for the government, confidence among CFOs in May's ability to secure a positive deal for business is just 3.5 out of 10, the survey showed.Possibly responding to criticism that it is not prepared for the talks, May's government this week published its proposals for customs arrangements and for the Northern Irish border.Both suggested that Britain wanted to mirror much of what is already in place, to reduce friction at borders, and said there should be no frontier posts or immigration checks between Ireland and the north.But this would mean EU citizens wishing to enter Britain could do so by traveling to Ireland and crossing the border unchecked - something that is likely to antagonize many Britons who said that controlling immigration was a major reason for their referendum vote last year in favor of Brexit.The EU would probably balk at the proposal as well, as it would be unlikely to accept the possibility of a free flow of non-EU standard goods into member state Ireland if Britain left the bloc's customs union and single market.An even more difficult part of the talks might be how much Britain should pay the EU when it leaves in March 2019. While saying it will meet its responsibilities on the "Brexit bill", Britain has questioned suggestions from the EU that it must pay around 60 billion euros.(Additional reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Mark Heinrich)
WORLD POWERS IN THE LAST DAYS (END OF AGE OF GRACE NOT THE WORLD)
EUROPEAN UNION-KING OF WEST-DAN 9:26-27,DAN 7:23-24,DAN 11:40,REV 13:1-10
EGYPT-KING OF THE SOUTH-DAN 11:40
RUSSIA-KING OF THE NORTH-EZEK 38:1-2,EZEK 39:1-3
CHINA-KING OF THE EAST-DAN 11:44,REV 9:16,18
VATICAN-RELIGIOUS LEADER-REV 13:11-18,REV 17:4-5,9,18
WORLD TERRORISM
OH BY THE WAY WHEN THE MEDIA SAYS ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS GOD IS GREAT LIE. IN ISLAM ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS OUR GOD IS GREATER OR GREATEST. THIS IS HOW THE MEDIA SUCK HOLES UP TO ISLAMIC-QURANIC-MUSLIMS. BY WATERING DOWN THE REAL MEANING OF THE SEX FOR MURDER DEATH CULT ISLAM. TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A PEACEFUL RELIGION (CULT OF DEATH AND WORLD DOMINATION).
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS) man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
Austrian soldiers to stop migrants from Italy By Andrew Rettman-AUG 17,17-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, Today, 09:28-Austria is sending soldiers to stop migrants coming from Italy, while Bulgaria has said the EU should “defend” its borders by “force of arms”.Austria said it would deploy 70 soldiers, but no armoured vehicles, at the Brenner Pass to Italy on Thursday (17 August).It said between 700 and 1,000 migrants were entering the country from Italy each month, many of them on freight trains.“It’s important not only to prevent illegal migration but, above all, to save human lives,” Helmut Tomac, an Austrian police chief, said on Wednesday, citing the fact that two migrants were found dead on a goods train last year.Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden have the European Commission’s blessing to impose temporary border checks despite being part of Schengen, the passport-free travel zone in Europe.The military deployment is part of a wider EU migrant crackdown, including on its external borders.Bulgaria said on Thursday that it would send 600 soldiers to stop people crossing from Turkey.Krassimir Karakachanov, its defence minister, told Die Welt, a German newspaper, that this would include “highly specialised combat groups”."We cannot allow illegal migrants to come to Europe in large numbers,” he said, adding: “We should deploy Nato or EU forces in Italy and Greece and defend the external borders of the European Union by force of arms”.-Migrant routes-Italy and Greece are still the main route for asylum seekers and economic migrants trying to enter the EU.Almost 96,500 people came to Italy by crossing the central Mediterranean from 1 January until 6 August, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), an international body based in Geneva.Some 11,700 came to Greece via the eastern Mediterranean and 8,200 came to Spain.The Greek route had been the main one, with 161,000 people last year.But this was all-but closed by an EU deal with Turkey to stop people from sailing to Greek islands, creating extra pressure on Italy and Spain.Italy saw 100,000 arrivals in the January to August period last year. The 2017 figure would have been higher, but a deal with Libya to stop migrants in Libyan waters and to chase away NGO rescue boats led to a recent drop-off in numbers.The Spanish figure for this year is already three times higher than for last year.Romania has also recorded a five-fold increase in irregular crossings compared to last year.It caught more than 1,400 people trying to sneak into the country in the first half of this year, including a boat carrying 69 Iraqi migrants in the Black Sea last weekend.-Solidarity crisis-The Austrian military action has highlighted the lack of solidarity on immigration in the EU.Local authorities in north-west Italy said the military deployment was “surprising and unjustified”.Italian leader Paolo Gentiloni also urged the European Commission in a letter this week to mobilise “a greater European effort to face the migrant phenomenon, which has a structural dimension and concerns the entire European Union”.EU states had agreed to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece over a two-year period.They relocated just 20,000 or so, however.The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia have boycotted the scheme, prompting legal action by the Commission.Austria and Bulgaria did not publicly boycott the quotas, but did so in effect. Austria, which was due to take 1,953 people, has taken in no one, while Bulgaria, which was due to take 1,302 people, took just 50 from Greece.France and Germany, which have complained about the EU quota rebels, have also fallen far short of their commitments.Germany was due to take 27,536 people, but took about 7,000. The French quota was 19,714, but France took about 4,000 people.-Human suffering-The EU border crackdown has been criticised on humanitarian grounds.The IOM said at least 2,405 people had died trying to cross the Mediterranean to the EU so far this year, compared to 3,193 in the same period last year.The majority of those coming to Greece were fleeing the war in Syria. Many of those coming via Libya to Italy had fled poverty, but faced torture and sexual violence in Libyan detention camps, according to charities such as the UK-based Save the Children.
Anti-Muslim Australian senator wears burqa in Parliament-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian senator provoked an angry backlash from lawmakers by wearing a burqa in Parliament on Thursday as part of her campaign for a national ban on Islamic face covers.Pauline Hanson, leader of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration One Nation minor party, sat wearing the black head-to-ankle garment for more than 10 minutes before taking it off as she rose to explain that she wanted such outfits banned on national security grounds."There has been a large majority of Australians (who) wish to see the banning of the burqa," said Hanson, an outspoken fan of President Donald Trump, as senators objected.Attorney-General George Brandis drew applause when he said his government would not ban the burqa, and chastised Hanson for what he described as a "stunt" that offended Australia's Muslim minority."To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to reflect on what you have done," Brandis said.Opposition Senate leader Penny Wong told Hanson: "It is one thing to wear religious dress as a sincere act of faith; it is another to wear it as a stunt here in the Senate."Sam Dastyari, an opposition senator and an Iranian-born Muslim, said: "We have seen the stunt of all stunts in this chamber by Sen. Hanson.""The close to 500,000 Muslim Australians do not deserve to be targeted, do not deserve to be marginalized, do not deserve to be ridiculed, do not deserve to have their faith made some political point by the desperate leader of a desperate political party," Dastyari said.Senate President Stephen Parry said Hanson's identity had been confirmed before she entered the chamber. He also said he would not dictate the standards of dress for the chamber.Parliament House briefly segregated women wearing burqas and niqabs in 2014. The department that runs Parliament House said that "persons with facial coverings" would no longer be allowed in the building's open public galleries. Instead, they were to be directed to galleries usually reserved for noisy schoolchildren, where they could sit behind soundproof glass.The policy was branded a "burqa ban" and was widely condemned as a segregation of Muslim women, as well as a potential breach of anti-discrimination laws.Officials relented, allowing people wearing face coverings in all public areas of Parliament House after the coverings were removed temporarily at the building's front door so that staff can check the visitor's identity.The reason behind the segregation was never explained, but it seems to have been triggered by a rumour on Sydney talk radio that men dressed in burqas were planning an anti-Muslim demonstration in Parliament House.Rod McGuirk, The Associated Press.
Exclusive: U.S. forces to stay in Syria for decades, say militia allies-[Reuters]-By John Davison-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
AIN ISSA, Syria (Reuters) - Washington's main Syrian ally in the fight against Islamic State says the U.S. military will remain in northern Syria long after the jihadists are defeated, predicting enduring ties with the Kurdish-dominated region.The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of militias dominated by the Kurdish YPG, believes the United States has a "strategic interest" in staying on, SDF spokesman Talal Silo told Reuters."They have a strategy policy for decades to come. There will be military, economic and political agreements in the long term between the leadership of the northern areas (of Syria) ... and the U.S. administration," Silo said.The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has deployed forces at several locations in northern Syria, including an airbase near the town of Kobani. It has supported the SDF with air strikes, artillery, and special forces on the ground.Asked about long-term strategy, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the coalition, referred Reuters to the Pentagon. He said there was "still a lot of fighting to do, even after ISIS has been defeated in Raqqa".Islamic State remained in strongholds along the Euphrates River Valley, he added, in a reference to its stronghold in Deir al-Zor province southeast of Raqqa."Our mission ... is to defeat ISIS in designated areas of Iraq and Syria and to set conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability," Dillon said, without elaborating.Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman, said in Washington: “The Department of Defense does not discuss timelines for future operations. However we remain committed to the destruction of ISIS and preventing its return.”The SDF and YPG dominate a swathe of northern Syria where Kurdish-led autonomous administrations have emerged since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011.The YPG and its allies hold an uninterrupted 400-km (250-mile) stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border.The U.S. alliance with the SDF and YPG is a major point of contention with neighboring Turkey, a U.S. ally. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought a three-decade insurgency in Turkey.Silo said: "The Americans have strategic interests here after the end of Daesh," using a pejorative term for Islamic State.-NEW BASES?-"They (recently) referred to the possibility of securing an area to prepare for a military airport. These are the beginnings - they're not giving support just to leave. America is not providing all this support for free," Silo said.He suggested northern Syria could become a new base for U.S. forces in the region. "Maybe there could be an alternative to their base in Turkey," he added, referring to the Incirlik air base.The head of the YPG said last month the United States had established seven military bases in areas of northern Syria controlled by the YPG or SDF, including a major air base near Kobani, a town at the border with Turkey.The coalition says it does not discuss the location of its forces, citing operational security.Reuters reporters have seen Blackhawk and Apache military helicopters taking off from a cement factory southeast of Kobani, a Kurdish town on the border with Turkey.Washington under the new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump started distributing arms to the YPG in March ahead of the final assault on Raqqa city, infuriating Turkey which has been unsuccessfully lobbying Washington to abandon the SDF.Despite SDF confidence that U.S. forces will stay, there is concern that Washington will not give enough backing to YPG-allied forces and civil councils that control northeast Syria."We're constantly asking them for clear, public political support," Silo said. He said the U.S. State Department held its first public meeting with SDF officials this month."At the moment there are no meetings being held for a real discussion of Syria's future. There are initiatives for developing political support for our forces, but we hope this will be bigger," he said.(Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Tom Perry and Andrew Roche)
Saudi Arabia reopens Qatar border for hajj pilgrims-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-August 17, 2017
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that it is reopening its border with Qatar to allow Qataris to attend the hajj, despite a monthslong rift between Doha and four Arab countries led by Riyadh that prompted both sides to trade accusations of politicizing the pilgrimage.The decision came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a surprise meeting with a Qatari royal family member whose branch of the family was ousted in a palace coup in 1972.Saudi state media broke the news overnight. Qatar did not officially comment on the deal until its foreign minister was pressed on Thursday by reporters during a briefing in Sweden, some 12 hours later.Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he welcomed the Saudi decision, but that the measures must also include a full lifting of the blockade.The way in which the deal was reached and announced out of Saudi Arabia raised questions about the level of the Qatari government's involvement. Qatari officials did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Qatari pilgrims will be allowed to enter the kingdom by land and would then be flown onward from two Saudi airports in Dammam and al-Ahsa at the king's expense. The king also ordered that aircraft from the country's flagship carrier be dispatched to Qatar's capital, Doha, to fly Qatari pilgrims to the Red Sea city of Jiddah — nearest to Mecca — and to host them at his expense for the hajj.Saudi state TV said 100 Qataris had arrived at the border crossing on Thursday.The decision came after Prince Mohammed met with Qatari royal family member Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani late Wednesday at a palace in Jiddah. Images broadcast on Saudi media showed the two men seated and smiling for cameras.Sheikh Abdullah, who's lived previously for some years in Saudi Arabia and has gone back on private visits, has no role in government and his last position was as head of the equestrian and camel racing federation in the 1970s and 1980s, said Gerd Nonneman, a professor of International Relations and Gulf Studies at Georgetown University in Qatar.Sheikh Abdullah's grandfather, father and brother were rulers of Qatar until a palace coup ousted his branch of the royal family in 1972."He's certainly not an envoy of the Qatari government. This was not a deal that was struck," Nonneman said, describing it as a Saudi "propaganda ploy" to catch the Qatari government off-guard.He said Saudi outreach to various individuals within Qatar's large royal family causes discomfort and "needles the Qatari leadership."Sheikh Abdullah was quoted as telling the Saudi prince that the ties between the two countries "are brotherly relations rooted in history." Saudi Arabia's crown prince responded in kind, emphasizing the historical ties between the two royal families, according to the Saudi Press Agency.The meeting in Jiddah was the first by a Qatari royal in Saudi Arabia since a political standoff erupted 10 weeks ago when the kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar. The quartet also halted direct flights, expelled Qatari residents and the three Gulf countries ordered their citizens in Qatar to leave. Saudi Arabia sealed Qatar's only land border.Mixed-nationality families in the Gulf were affected by the measures, and Qatari students in the Gulf countries were pulled out of final exams. The crisis has also strained traditional kinships in the region.Qatar's National Human Rights Committee issued a brief statement Thursday responding to what it said were "reports in Saudi media" outlining the kingdom's measures for Qatari pilgrims.The committee expressed its "satisfaction" with the decisions, but reiterated its demands that the hajj not be politicized and said the Saudi measures remain "unclear," particularly regarding the facilitation of hajj for foreigners residing in Qatar. The statement noted that the agreement does not include allowing Qatar Airways flights carrying pilgrims.The statement also called "for further measures to lift the siege entirely on citizens and residents of Qatar."Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the hajj, which begins late next week. Saudi Arabia prides itself on hosting millions of pilgrims annually at Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.Qatar's human rights committee had previously filed a complaint with the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of belief and religion over restrictions placed on its nationals who wanted to attend the hajj this year. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Qatar's complaint amounted to a "declaration of war" against the kingdom's management of the holy sites.Despite the goodwill measure announced Thursday, tensions remain. The quartet accuses the small Gulf nation of supporting extremists. Qatar denies the allegation and says the charges are politically motivated.Bahrain on Wednesday said it was investigating an alleged telephone call between Qatar's prime minister and Ali Salman, a Bahraini Shiite opposition leader who is serving a nine-year prison sentence for his role in the country's 2011 protests. Bahrain's public prosecutor said the alleged call centred on how to "exacerbate (tensions) and undermine Bahrain's interests and stability."___Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Adam Schreck and Jon Gambrell in Dubai and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.Abdullah Al-Shihri And Aya Batrawy, The Associated Press.
